Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Mike Burrows Exits With Injury, Nick Gonzales Goes Deep & More

The Pittsburgh Pirates could be dealing with a major prospect injury, Nick Gonzales hit a home run, Jared Jones impressed in his Double-A debut, and more in today's minor league roundup

So far this season things have been going pretty well for the Pittsburgh Pirates. So, on Saturday, the baseball gods decided that it's time to interfere. In Triple-A Indianapolis' 5-4 victory over the Louisville Bats, their fourth in a row to improve to 4-4 on the season, one of the organization's top pitching prospects exited with an apparent injury.

Looking to build upon his strong start to begin the season, Mike Burrows was making his second start of the season with Triple-A Indianapolis. Unfortunately, Saturday afternoon's start lasted just 28 pitches before Burrows walked off the mound with Indy's head trainer and manager Miguel Perez with what appeared to be an injury.

Prior to exiting his start Burrows pitched 1.2 innings. He allowed two hits, did not walk a batter, struck out a pair, and the lone run he allowed came on the solo home run he surrendered before being lifted. He threw 16 of his 28 pitches for strikes.

Hopefully, this was just precautionary with Burrows. Burrows is expected to join the Pirate starting rotation at some point this summer on his way to becoming a major rotation building block for the Pirates. Losing Burrows for an extended period of time could have a negative impact on the Pirates both now and in the future.

2020 first-round pick Nick Gonzales helped to jump start the Indy offense. With Indy trailing 1-0, Gonzales led the 4th inning off with his 2nd home run of the season. Gonzales finished the game 1-for-4 with this blast and a walk.

Following the home run by Gonzales, Endy Rodriguez reached on an error. Mark Mathias then got in on the home run fun by hitting his 1st of the season to give the Indians their first lead of the game. Rodriguez started at first base, and went 1-for-4 with a walk, a RBI, and a run scored. Cal Mitchell was 1-for-2 with a double and a run scored, Travis Swaggerty was 0-for-1 with a walk, and Miguel Andújar was 1-for-4 with a double.

After Burrows exited the game left Cam Alldred replaced him, striking out three batters while allowing a hit in 2.1 scoreless innings pitched. Hunter Stratton allowed a run in the 5th inning, Colin Selby allowed a run on two hits and a strikeout in 2 innings pitched. Yoham Ramirez struck out a pair in a 1-2-3 8th inning, and Yerry De Los Santos picked up a strikeout in a scorless 9th on his way to picking up his 2nd save of the season.

Offense struggles in loss for Altoona

For the second time in as many days the offense struggled for the Double-A Altoona Curve. This led to the Curve suffering a 4-2 loss against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, leading to an 0-3 start to the season.

Making his Double-A debut, righty Jared Jones started for Altoona and flashed some good things. In 4.2 innings pitched Jones allowed only one hit, albeit a home run, while walking two batters and striking out six. He hit a batter, threw 48 of his 75 pitches for strikes, and allowed 2 earned runs.

Jones will be one of the most intriguing arms to watch in the Pirate farm system this season. The 21-year-old is young for the Double-A level, but has tremendous spin rate and multiple plus pitches. Jones pitching his way into being one of the top pitching prospects in teh farm system would not be a surprise.

Nick Dombkowski relieved Jones, allowing a run on two hits in 1.1 innings pitched. While the run Dombkowski allowed was unearned it was due to an error he committed. Tahnaj Thomas walked a batter and struck a batter out in a scoreless 7th inning.

After Tyler Samaniego allowed a run in the top of the 8th inning, the Curve offense finally struck in the bottom half of the inning.

After catcher Dylan Shockley reached on a fielding error, right fielder and lead off man Josh Palacios singled. Henry Davis then hit his 1st triple of the season, scoring Shockley and Palacios, but fly outs by Liover Peguero and Matt Gorski ended the threat with Altoona trailing 4-2.

Matt Eckelman pitched a scoreless top of the 9th inning. However, the Curve offense failed to score in the 9th leading to the loss.

High-A Greensboro picks up their first victory of the season

After falling to the Hudson Valley Renegades in their season opener on Friday, the High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers bounced back with a 5-3 victory on Saturday.

Shortstop Tsung-Che Cheng was at the top of the lineup for the Grasshoppers, and went 1-for-4 with a walk, a triple, and two runs scored. Catcher Abrahan Gutierrez was 2-for-4 with a 2-run home run, and second baseman Maikol Escotto was 2-for-4 a run scored and two RBI.

Highly touted righty Bubba Chandler started for the Grasshoppers and pitched 3.1 innings. Chandler allowed 3 runs, 2 earned, on three hits, two walks, and four strikeouts. Making his High-A debut, 2022 draft pick Cy Nielson allowed two hits, walked a batter, and struck out three in 1.2 scoreless innings pitched.

Righties Eddy Yean and Jack Carey each pitched 2 scoreless innings of relief. Neither pitcher allowed a hit, Yean walked three batters and struck out three, while Carey did not walk a batter and struck out four.